Immigration’s impact on state examined
in “Envisioning California” conference

The contributions of California’s immigrants—culturally, linguistically and economically—will be examined at the 19th annual Envisioning California conference Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

The conference will focus on immigrants’ contributions, which have made California a global innovator in industry, arts and science. Panel discussions will assess the impact of immigration on specific service areas historically, presently, and in the future.

The conference is presented by Sacramento State’s Center for California Studies and the Center for Southern California Studies at California State University, Northridge.

Author and journalist Hector Tobar will provide the keynote address at noon, Sept. 19. Other speakers scheduled to appear include Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison; Val Zavala, anchor of KCEO’s “Life and Times;” John Trasvina, president of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Stewart Kwoh, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center; Blair Taylor, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League; and Pilar Marrero, political editor and columnist for La Opinion.

Panel sessions will include topics such as “Where Would We Be Without Our Immigrants?” “Living Together: Multiculturalism and Race Relations,” “Jobs: Partners or Competitors,” and “California Immigrant Literature Through Three Ethnic Lenses: Basque American Poetry, Italian American Memoir, and Filipino American Fiction.”